I'm a complete football newb, and I've been given an assignment to write about Bill Brundige (a local hero) and I don't know the first place to start! All I can find is that he was part of the 1972 defense, which was considered one of the best and went to the 1972 super bowl.

Anybody have any good basics on the man and his contributions to the team? Or even information on the 1970-1977 seasons that will help me know what it was like while he was on the team?

Things I know or could find out about about Brundige, though he's a little before my time:

Brundige was the one who blocked the Yepremian FG attemt in the 72 Super Bowl. Yepremian tried to pick up the block and throw it, but it wobbled right out of his hands to Mike Bass who ran it back for a TD to put the Redskins back in the game at 14-7.

I'm pretty sure it was Brundige who broke the news to everyone that president Nixon had called Coach Allen with a play suggestion.

The Skins drafted him in the second round (43rd overall) of the 1970 draft out of Colorado.

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:Cool assignment. Are you taking a Redskins history class?

That could be fun ; ) But it's actually for a newspaper that I work for. Brundige lives in our area so we're including him in an upcoming special section of locals who made it big. Brundige wasn't born here, but he lives here now.

It's actually interesting, because we're going to have two of the Top 70 in our section. Gary Clark is from our small town, and went to my high school.

I have been wating for someone to post about Bill Brundige.I'm very proud of the fact that I have ties to such a legend.Im talking that we work for the same company, and thats no joke!!!Bill is the general manager for the Duncan automotive network at there Hokie honda store in blacksburg virginia.The same town that Virginia tech is in.I do not work for the honda store but in another leg of the network.I know that it would be easy to get information on him, if i tried.I have shaken hands with the man before, but I did not bother him with football.Everyone says he is a nice guy.I thought that I would share this with everyone.I love having a redskin legend that works for the same company as I.

"Guess [Ryan Kerrigan] really does have a good motor. And is relentless. And never quits on a play. And just keeps coming. And probably eats Wheaties and drinks Apple Pie smoothies and shaves with Valvoline." -Dan Steinberg DC Sports Bog

I think Brundige was drafted by either Vince Lombardi, or by Bill Austin, Lombardi's offensive coordinator who too over the team when Lombardi was diagnosed with cancer between the '69 and '70 seasons. The Redskins had had a terrible defense before Lombardi, so that was one of the areas he was working hard on. I once read a snippet from Sam Huff's autobiography that Huff was embarrassed when he was traded from the Giants to the Redskins. The Giants had actual defensive plays; the early '60's Redskins were not coached to do anything except stand in position...

George Allen completed what Lombardi started. He brought in a flock of veteran defensive players, many from his old team, the Rams. He kept a few holdovers: Pat Fischer (cornerback), Brig Owens (free safety), and Chris Hanburger (a 215 pound lightening fast linebacker) come to mind. Probably Mike Bass, the other corneback.

Brundige was another holdover, but younger.

I think Allen used him as a pass-rushing specialist the first year. I'll have to look at the roster to see who might have been the 1st and 2nd down specialist...

After the first year, Bill Brundige and Diron Talbert were the regular tackles for a long time.

If you can interview Brundige, ask him about the volley-ball game. Sometime under Allen, the Redskin defense began playing a volleyball game on Saturdays.